Monday, November 28, 2011

Looking for an app to help people with disabilities choose the right way to dress for the day? Try iDress for Weather. Its closet can be customized by uploading photos or images and the temperature settings can be personalized to what is comfortable to an individual. Best of all, iDress for Weather's designers state that the app was "specifically designed to support individuals whose cognitive processing or memory is affected by a disability (such as autism or other developmental disabilities) or has changed due to an injury or illness (such as a traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, or dementia)."

Monday, November 21, 2011

Today on Mobile App Monday, we take a look at a piece of assistive technology: Amplify'd. This app is great for those who are hard of hearing and need an auditory boost. At 99 cents, it's much cheaper than other hearing devices or ear mounted hardware and lets you watch TV or listen to the radio without having to turn up the volume.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Got a child with attention issues--ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, or sensory processing disorder? Pay Attention, Emily Brown! is a fun picture book of a mother who uses poetry and illustrations to try to get a child's attention. This book is written for children 4-8 years old and will capture not only their attention but also their imagination and keep them entertained.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications is now in its second edition. The authors examine how people self-regulate their thoughts, emotions, attention, behavior, and impulses and what can happen when these areas are not self-regulated. This new edition expands on the social basis of self-regulation, incorporates significant scientific advances, adds many new topics and more.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Need to address problem behaviors? Pick up Positive behavior support at the tertiary level: Red zone strategies. Packed with practical information to help a behavior support team succeed, this book will help parents and professionals alike understand what sets off students' behaviors and how to address them in positive, helpful ways. Real-life examples are used to guide the reader in assessing behaviors and implementing behavior plans.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Got a kid who needs some extra help learning social skills? Social rules for kids: The top 100 social rules kids need to succeed is written in a fun kid-friendly style. From rules on making conversation to recognizing and avoiding bullying to learning good manners, this book will have a bit of something for everyone who needs help. Tips to remember at the end of each skill are presented again at the end of the book in the form of a list that could be copied and kept near at hand as a quick reminder.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Brrr! Did you bundle up today? Feel that nip in the air? Colder weather is approaching which means higher energy bills for all of us. For people with disabilities, that can be especially difficult. With that in mind, the Arc of Indiana is announcing the opening of this year's Winter Heating Assistance Program. This program can assist 300 low-income individuals with disabilities with $100 toward their winter heating bills. Funding for the Winter Heating Assistance Program comes from The Arc of Indiana's trust.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Shy spaghetti and excited eggs: A kid's menu of feelings is a book for children to help them understand their emotions and how they can better manage them. Based on a restaurant theme, the menu lists choices such as Happy Hot Dog, Worried Watermelon, and Scared Shrimp. Each choice offers techniques to use when feelings get too big, and a Note To Parents page gives further tips and information about how to help children identify, experience, and manage their feelings.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Interested in co-teaching or already co-teaching? Straight from staff right here at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community comes a new book that focuses on the communication and collaboration involved with co-teaching. Critical conversations in co-teaching: A problem-solving approach is a practitioner's guide to building quality relationships with colleagues. The authors first discuss the framework of communication needed and then use practical examples to show how co-teaching strategies can positively influence students' achievements.

Friday, November 4, 2011

The Down Syndrome Family Connection will hold a workshop and Panel Discussion on Sunday, November 13 from 2:45 - 5pm, as well as a SibShop for Siblings ages 6 - 13.The parent workshop will include a video about the experience of siblings of people with special needs, and a panel discussion with the real "experts" - adult siblings who will share experiences and recommendations and take questions from attendees.

The SibShop is an opportunity for brothers and sisters ages 6-13 of children with special needs to obtain peer support and education wtihin a recreational context. Sibshops are conducted by a trained facilitator.

This event is free and open to all families regardless of diagnosis. Free childcare will be provided - please register by November 9th to secure childcare.
Location is:
Ellettsville Christian Church
731 Independence Street
Ellettsville, Indiana

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Want the facts on Medicaid and how important it is for children? The American Academy of Pediatrics, in partnership with the National Association of Children's Hospitals, has created fact sheets for each state with explanations and statistics on how each state assists its children on Medicaid. Please visit http://aap.org/advocacy/washing/medicaid/ to see the Medicaid fact sheet for your state.

Looking for a little help assessing young children who are developmentally diverse? Alternative approaches to assessing young children might be the answer. Now in its second edition, this book was written by experts in early childhood special education. Thoroughly updated to include the last 10 years demographics, research, technology, and legislation, this book is also easy to use. Chapter review questions, a glossary, in-depth case studies, and a sample syllabus help make this text accessible for college instructors.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

November is here! Time to start preparing for colder weather and thinking about the upcoming holidays. Like me, you might be wondering what happened to October. The month flew by so quickly! But if you're also wondering what new titles the library acquired last month, you're in luck. The "What's New" page on CeDIR's website has been updated. Visit this link to view the list of new materials, with titles ranging from assistive technology to learning disabilities to therapies: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=2317